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fon; and that, by thus forming a common library of our individual collections, each would have the advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would nearly be the fame as if he poffeffed them all himfelf. The idea was ap proved, and we accordingly brought fuch books as we thought we could fpare, which were placed at the end of the club-room. They amounted

not to fo many as we expected; and though we made confiderable use of them, yet fome inconveniences refulting, from want of care, it was agreed, after about a year, to deftroy the collection; and each took away fuch books as belonged to him.

It was now that I fi:ft ftarted the idea of cftablifhing by fubfcription, a public library. I drew up the propofals, had them ingroffed in form by Brockden the attorney, and my project fucceeded, as will be seen in the fequel

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[The Life of Dr. Franklin, as written by him. felf, fo far as it has yet been communicated to the world, breaks off in this place. We underftand that it was continued by him fomewhat further, and we hope that the remainder will, at fome future period, be communicated to the public. We have no hesitation in fuppofing that every reader will find himself greatly intereffed by the frank fimplicity and the philolophical difcernment by which thefe pages are fo eminently chara&teriled. We have therefore thought proper, in order as much as poffible to relieve his regret, to fubjoin the following continuation, by one of the Doctor's intimate hiends. It is ex

tracted from an American periodical publication, and was written by the late Dr. Stuber*, of Philadelphia.]

THE

HE promotion of literature had been little. attended to in Pennfylvania. Moft of the inhabitants were too much immerfed in business to think of scientific purfuits; and thefe few, whole inclinations led them to fludy, found it difficult to gratify them, from the want of fufficient large libruies. In fuch circumftances, the establishment of a public library was an important event. This was firft fet on foot by Franklin, about the year 1731. Fifty perfons fubfcribed forty fhillings cach, and agreed to pay ten fhillings annu

* Dr. Stuber was born in Philadelphia, of German parents. He was fent, at an early age, to the university, where his genius, diligence, and amiable temper, foon ac-› quired him the particular notice and favour of thofe under whofe immediate direction he was placed. After paffing through the common course of ftudy, in a much fhorter time than ufual, he left the univerfity, at the age of fixteen, with great reputation. Not long after, he entered on the ftudy of phylic; and the zeal with which he purfued it, and the advances he made, gave his friends reafon to form the moll flattering profpects of his future eminence and usefulness in the profeffion. As Dr. Stuber's circumftances" were very moderate, he did not think this purfuit well calculated to answer them. He therefore relinquished it, after he had obtained a degree in the profeffion, and qualified himself to practife with credit and fuccefs; and immedidiately entered on the ftudy of law. In purfuit of the lattmentioned object, he was prematurely arrefted, before he Fad an opportunity of reaping the fruit of thofe talents with which he was endowed, and of a youth fent in the ardent and fuccefsful purfuit of ufelul and elegant literature.

ally. The number increafed; and in 1742, the company was incorporated by the name of "The Library Company of Philadelphia." Several other companies were formed in this city in imitation of it. Thele were all at length united with the library company of Philadelphia, which thus received a confiderable acceffion of books and property. It now contains about eight thoufand volumes on all fubjects, a philofophical apparatus, and a good beginning towards a collection of natural and artificial curiofities, befides landed property of confiderable value. The company have lately built an elegant houfe in Fifth-treet, in the front of which will be erected a marble statue of their founder Benjamin Franklin.

This inftitution was greatly encouraged by the friends of literature in America and in GreatBritain. The Penn family diftinguished themfelves by their donations. Amongst the earliest friends of this inftitution must be mentioned the fate Peter Collinfon, the friend and correfpondent of Dr. Franklin. He not only made confiderable prefents himself, and obtained others from his friends, but voluntarily undertook to manage the business of the company in London, recommending books, purchafing and fhipping them. His extenfive knowledge, and zeal for the promotion of science, enabled him to execute this important truft with the greatest advantage. He continued to perform these services for more than thirty years, and uniformly refufed to accept of any compenfation. During this time, he communicated to the directors every in

formation relative to improvements and diícoveries in the arts, agriculture, and philofophy.

The beneficial influence of this inftitution was foon evident. The cheapnefs of terms rendered it acceffible to every one. Its advantages were not confined to the opulent. The citizens in the middle and lower walks of life were equally partakers of them. Hence a degree of information was extended amongst all claffes of people, which is very unusual in other places. The example was foon followed. Libraries were established in various places, and they are now become very numerous in the United States, and particularly in Pennsylvania. It is to be hoped that they will be still more widely extended, and that information will be every where increafed. This will be the beft fecurity for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men, who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them, cannot be enflaved. It is in the regions of ignorance that tyranny reigns. It flies before the light of science. Let the citizens of America, then, encourage inftitutions calculated to diffufe knowledge amongft the people; and amongst these, public libraries are not the leaft important.

In 1732, Franklin began to publish Poor Richard's Almanack. This was remarkable for the numerous and valuable concife maxims which it contained, all tending to exhort to industry and frugality. It was continued for many years. the almanack for the last year, all the maxims were collected in an address to the reader, entitled, The Way to Wealth. This has been' tranflated

In

in various languages, and inferted in different publications. It has alfo been printed on a large Theet, and may be feen framed in many houses in this city. This address contains, perhaps the best practical fyftem of economy that ever has appeared. It is written in a manner intelligible to every one, and which cannot fail of convincing every reader of the justice and propriety of the remarks and advice which it contains. The demand for this almanack was lo great, that ten thousand have been fold in one year; which must be considered as a very large number, especially when we reflect, that this country was, at that time, but thinly peopled. It cannot be doubted that the falutary maxims contained in these almanacks must have made a favourable impreffion upon many of the readers of them:

It was not long before Franklin entered upor his political career. In the year 1736 he was appointed clerk to the general affembly of Pennfylvania; and was re-elected by fucceeding affemblies for several years, until he was chosen a representative for the city of Philadelphia.

Bradford was poffeffed of fome advantages over Franklin, by being poft-mafter, thereby having an opportunity of circulating his paper more extenfively, and thus rendering it a better vehicle for advertisements, &c. Franklin, in his turn, enjoyed these advantages, by being appointed post-master of Philadelphia in 1737. Bradford, while in office, had acted ungenerously towards Franklin, preventing as much as poffible the circulation of his paper. He had now an

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